Phil Hawes set to welcome Jacob Malkoun at UFC 254

Phil Hawes will make his octagon debut opposite undefeated middleweight Jacob Malkoun at UFC 254 on Oct. 24, multiple sources confirmed to MMA Fighting following a report from Ag. Fight.

Hawes (8-2) earned a contract with the UFC after making short work of Khadzhimurat Bestaev at the Contender Series earlier this month, knocking out the LFA veteran in just 78 seconds. The former TUF 23 alum enters the cage riding a four-fight finishing streak under the Bellator and Brave CF banners.

Malkoun (4-0), a 24-year-old prospect that trains alongside former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker in Australia, makes his octagon debut after winning four professional MMA bouts and going 3-0 with a pair of knockouts as a professional boxer.

The pay-per-view event will take place at Abu Dhabi’s Fight Island and feature a title unification bout between lightweight champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje in the main event.